Benefits of Window Displays
Window displays can help increase foot traffic, enhance brand awareness, highlight products and promotions, and differentiate from the competition.
Research indicates that window displays influence a person’s decision to enter the store, thus increasing foot traffic.
Additionally, they are a great way to showcase the brand and engage with the local community and neighborhood. Window displays can be used to showcase new products, highlight promotions, enhance brand image, and stand out from the competition.
Types of Window Displays
There are different types of window displays you can use in your store:
Open Window Displays
In this type of display, there is nothing separating the window from the rest of the store. They are ideal for showcasing clothing and displaying the store’s interior design. However, open window displays expose devices and wiring, making them harder to hide.
Closed Window Displays
Closed window displays feature a wall or backdrop separating them from the store’s floor. These displays spotlight showcased products by eliminating distractions from inside the store. However, they prevent natural light from entering the store, so adequate lighting must be compensated on the floor.
Shadow Box Window Displays
Shadow boxes are used to display small, detailed items like jewelry, shoes, and cosmetics. They are typically small enough to accommodate two people to look at them simultaneously.
Corner Window Displays
You get a corner window display when two windows intersect at a corner, creating a significantly boxy display. Corners are ideal for attracting shoppers coming from any direction and showcasing products from multiple sides. However, arranging products in these displays can be challenging, as they need to look appealing from multiple viewpoints.
How to Create Window Displays in 8 Steps
Here’s how to set up your first retail window display:
1. Prepare a Window Display Toolkit
Before you start thinking of complex ideas for your first window display, let’s ensure you have the tools needed for success. Here are some essential components you’ll need to get started:
– Measuring tape
– Scissors
– Stapler
– Double-sided tape
– Hammer and nails
– Utility knife
– Hot glue gun and glue sticks
– Screwdriver and screws
– Pen, pencil, marker, and notepad
– Props (any non-commercial items)
You may need other materials depending on the design of your window display. However, these tools will help you get started and can be used as a basic shopping list for your design.
2. Start with a Thematic Story
When it comes to conceptualizing your window display, it’s best to start with pen and paper. Before you start sketching your window display ideas, begin with a thematic story. Yes, your window display design should convey at least a basic narrative. After all, it’s proven that storytelling can be a strategic tool for businesses.
It’s best to start with a theme and then use your storytelling skills to turn it into something more elaborate. For example:
– Instead of “Christmas,” think of “The Nutcracker” (here are some Christmas window display ideas if you’re looking for holiday inspiration!)
– Instead of “Halloween,” think of “Sleepy Hollow”
– Instead of “Valentine’s Day,” think of “Cupid’s Mischief”
– Instead of “Thanksgiving,” think of “Turkey Decorating”
3. Create a Focal Point for the Window Display
Once you have a rough sketch, including a thematic story, take a moment to step outside and look at your window carefully.
This will help you
that in determining the location of your focal point. The focal point is where you want potential customers to look first and focus their attention. It should be large enough to grab the attention of shoppers, even across the street.
Start thinking about how to arrange products around your focal point. Will you arrange products on wires or shelves around the focal point? Or will you stack them in a pyramid? Explore different configurations to see what works best for your window display.
4. Be Bold in Everything
Let’s be honest: the community’s attention span is shrinking to less than a fraction of a second, and your shoppers are no exception. You can count on most people passing by your store to be busy chatting with friends, texting, or walking their dogs. So, you’ll need to do your utmost to ensure you grab their attention. At the very least, you can create a window display they want to take pictures of with their smartphones and share with the world.
So, when creating your retail window display, don’t be boring. Be bold with colors, shapes, and props. Think outside of standard colors and choose more eye-catching colors like fuchsia, orange, and electric blue. Just remember to use your wise judgment and keep everything consistent with your brand.
Props are also a great way to think outside the box, especially if the local art store is stocked with various art supplies. Consider foam board cutouts or creating props from cardboard or anything else you think would be suitable for your brand and store.
5. Keep Your Window Displays Simple
With so many window display ideas available to draw inspiration from, it’s easy to go overboard and create an overly complicated display. However, excess clutter is likely to overwhelm and push potential passersby away rather than grab their attention. Don’t try to do too much or you’ll end up with a busy, unfocused display.
Always keep your goal in mind: ultimately, you want to capture customers’ attention for your products and help them quickly understand why some products are grouped with others. This also means keeping your display clutter-free and being able to justify why each component of the display is included.
6. Balance is Key
When creating a display, you will have small and large items, light and dark colors, lights and shadows, etc. It’s important to balance the different elements you will use to create an appealing aesthetic.
Typically, you’ll want to place larger, darker items towards the bottom, and lighter and more colorful items at the top. This arrangement will prevent your display from looking top-heavy. Similarly, if you place all large items on one side and all small items on the other, you will have an unbalanced window display. Imagine balancing items on a scale, which means doing things like balancing one large item on one side with several small items on the other side.
Trust your judgment and gain an understanding of the emotion your display evokes. With a balanced display, you are more likely to create feelings of happiness, excitement, and joy, while an unbalanced display may signify anxiety or instability.
7. Pay Attention to Lighting
When it comes to creating an effective window display, lighting is often something that comes second or something to consider if you have the budget for “extra costs.” But lighting can be a crucial element in drawing people in to stop and notice your display.
It can
Lighting can create mood, highlight certain products at the expense of others, and provide a dramatic setting for showcasing your store window. The right lighting strategy can drive profits by helping you get the right focal point and directing viewers’ eyes to where you want them.
We do not recommend lighting displays directly from above, as this can lead to harsh, unattractive shadows. Instead, consider lighting displays from the sides and front. This technique will highlight the three-dimensional quality of the display. Additionally, you can truly enjoy when the light comes from different angles.
8. Take a final look at the window display
Once you have all the pieces in place, be sure to take a look at your window display from every possible angle. A person rarely notices a display only when standing directly in front of it. Approach it from different directions and check your focal point, how visible your signage or calls to action are, and whether everything is balanced.
If you’re happy with the results, congratulations, your window display is ready to go!
Window Display Tips
Now that you’ve laid the foundation for your display, here are some tips to take it to the next level:
Identify Your Target Audience
Your audience will influence the products you choose to showcase, the colors you use, and the stories you tell in your windows. Keep the ideal customer in mind when designing your displays.
Consider Lines of Sight and Viewing Points
It is known that groceries display cereals for kids on lower shelves and cereals for adults on upper shelves. Why? Because that’s where those customers’ lines of sight land, and thus, where their attention will be.
Consider the lines of sight for passersby when building outdoor displays. For example, if you have a children’s clothing store, you might showcase products aimed at children, such as toys, at a height suitable for children’s viewing and display more practical products at eye level for parents.
In addition to considering lines of sight, it’s also important to remember that you are designing a three-dimensional display, not a flat one. Ensure that products and props are easily visible and look good from different angles.
Keep Window Displays Fresh
Change your displays regularly to let customers who pass by frequently know it’s time for them to stop in again. “We try to change the windows every two to three weeks to keep it fresh for the daily travelers,” says Nicole Haddad, owner and designer of the sustainable fashion brand Lobo Mau.
Leverage Technology
According to McKinsey, technology will help retail double its profitability. Interactive technologies like augmented reality, touch screens, and QR codes help give new meaning to the term “window shopping.” Utilize them to grab the attention of passersby and influence purchase decisions.
12 Ideas and Examples for Inspiring Window Displays
Need some inspiration before you start creating your window display? Here are some eye-catching examples to help spark your creativity.
1. Gucci
2. Leaves of Trees
3. Saks Fifth Avenue x Vetements
4. Alice + Olivia
5. Bergdorf Goodman
6. Tiffany & Co.
7. Barneys New York
8. Fendi
9. TYPE Books
10. Hermès
11. Lobo Mau
12. UrbanGlass
Attract customers with engaging window displays
Window displays are a powerful sales tool. They draw in customers, keep them engaged, and help kickstart sales. By being creative with your displays and enhancing them with technology, you will turn passersby into customers.
What Are the Elements of a Good Window Display?
– Products
– Lighting
– Moving/interactive elements
–
Different tools
– Graphics / Window decals
– Cardboard display pieces
– Marketing messages
This post was written by Marianne Wisenthal and updated by Ana Cvetkovic.
Source: https://www.shopify.com/retail/10-innovative-window-displays-that-you-should-consider-stealing
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